On Cyprus

 Second Saturday after the Epiphany

Thanks to Frances for her comment. Let me hear from others of you, I always really appreciate comments and questions. 

Happily I return to our Acts Bible Study today. Please read Acts 13:4-12. 

We're on the beautiful island of Cyprus. Paul and Barnabas are assisted by John Mark (here called simply John. Luke describes the governor of the island, the proconsul Sergius Paulus, as an intelligent man. He hears favorable reviews of the apostles' teaching. Traveling philosophers, primarily from the Cynic and Stoic philosophical traditions are common in the ancient world. Sergius Paulus summons the apostles to hear firsthand what they have to say. We are not told the content of their conversation, but Sergius Paulus 

is impressed with their teaching. 

 

A Jewish magician named Bar-Jesus (a.k.a. Elymas), who has the ear of the Proconsul, recognizes the apostles as a threat. He tries to dissuade Sergius Paulus from believing their message.

There are some oddities in this story. The Jews abhor magic. Let me note that magic in the ancient context of the word does not refer to sleight of hand entertainment. It refers to things like fortune telling, seances, curses, and the like. The closest modern equivalent would be voodoo. This makes Bar-Jesus quite an oddity. Before we think that this story may just be a literary creation of Luke, let me note that Sergius Paulus was in fact proconsul of Cyrus in the mid-40's of the first century. There are three ancient inscriptions on Cyprus that attest to this fact.

Saul, a.k.a. Paul, pronounces a curse on Bar-Jesus. This is another oddity. Nascent Christianity is much better known for blessings than for curses. The content of Saul/Paul's curse is ironic. Bar-Jesus will be blind for a while. Paul himself was blinded for a while on the Road to Damascus, after he had been speaking against Christianity, just as Bar-Jesus was now. The curse is temporary. Bar-Jesus will have his physical sight restored. We are not told whether he becomes a Christian thereafter. 

 

We are told that Sergius Paulus becomes a Christian. Verse 12 shows us that what leads him to the faith is two-fold. One, it is the temporary blinding of Bar-Jesus, what Paul in his letters would call a "demonstration of power." Two, it is the apostles' teaching about the Lord. Lord in this context refers Jesus Christ. Sometimes the word refers to God; sometimes, to Jesus. 

Bar-Jesus is an Aramaic name, indicating that he is indeed Jewish. It means "Son of Joshua." Elymas is a Greek name. It is not as Luke says, "the translation of his name." Luke appears to have made a poor word choice in this instance. Many Jewish people of the time had two names, one Hebrew/Aramaic, the other Greek. Saul/Paul is himself an example of this. Paul (Paulos) is a Greek name. It is not a translation of Saul (Saoul), which is an Aramaic name. 

There is more than one way to see the emphasis of this story. (1) Christianity has more power than magic. (2) Christianity appeals more to gentiles than to Jews. (3) Christianity is cross-cultural, appealing both to the poor and slaves and also to people in positions of power. (4) Christianity appeals to the intelligent and learned, as well as to the mass number of people who are illiterate.

It is our faith's appeal to the intelligent and learned that will become the most important factor in propelling its success. The work of brilliant Christian writers, from Paul to Augustine to Hildegarde of Bingen to Martin Luther to John Wesley and hundreds in between has kept and grown the faith.

Faithfully,

Christian